Does Breastfeeding Help or Hurt Eczema? What the Research Says

You're pregnant or newly postpartum, eczema runs in your family, and you're desperately hoping that breastfeeding will protect your baby from the itchy, inflamed skin you remember from your own childhood. Or perhaps your exclusively breastfed baby has already developed eczema, and you're wondering if you should have done something differently—or if continuing to breastfeed is somehow making things worse.

This article is part of our comprehensive Breastfeeding and Baby Eczema: Complete Australian Guide, specifically addressing what scientific research actually tells us about breastfeeding's role in preventing or influencing eczema development. If you're trying to understand whether breastfeeding protects against eczema, increases risk, or has no effect at all, this guide cuts through the conflicting headlines to give you the evidence-based answers you need.

After decades of research and hundreds of studies, the scientific answer to "does breastfeeding prevent eczema?" remains frustratingly inconclusive. Different studies reach different conclusions, and the relationship between breastfeeding and eczema appears far more complex than the simple protective narrative many health organizations promoted for years.

Here's what the current body of evidence shows:

Some studies suggest modest protection: Several research papers have found that exclusive breastfeeding for 3-6 months may reduce eczema risk during the first 2 years of life, particularly for babies with a family history of allergic conditions. The protective effect appears strongest when a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) has eczema, asthma, or hay fever.

Many recent studies find no effect: Large-scale systematic reviews and cohort studies increasingly conclude there's insufficient evidence that breastfeeding prevents eczema in the general population. A 2019 study in Children's National Hospital tracking 2,000 mother-child pairs found exclusive breastfeeding lowered odds of some allergic conditions but not consistently for eczema.

Some studies show increased risk: Counter-intuitively, certain observational studies have linked longer breastfeeding duration to higher eczema rates. However, researchers attribute this largely to "reverse causation"—mothers breastfeeding longer precisely because their baby already has eczema symptoms or a family history of allergies, creating a statistical association that doesn't reflect causation.

Understanding this complex evidence landscape is part of the broader picture of allergies and intolerances while breastfeeding and how maternal feeding choices intersect with infant immune development.

Several factors explain why studies reach such different conclusions about breastfeeding and eczema:

The Reverse Causation Problem

Families with a history of allergic conditions are more likely to breastfeed longer and exclusively, following medical advice to reduce allergy risk. When these babies develop eczema anyway (which they're genetically predisposed to do), studies may incorrectly show breastfeeding associated with higher eczema rates. The breastfeeding didn't cause the eczema—the underlying genetic risk caused both the decision to breastfeed longer and the eczema development.

Defining "Exclusive Breastfeeding"

Studies define exclusive breastfeeding differently—some mean no other foods or liquids whatsoever, others allow water or vitamin supplements. The duration considered "exclusive" also varies (3 months vs. 4 months vs. 6 months), making direct comparisons difficult.

Eczema Diagnosis Variability

Eczema presents differently across infants and is diagnosed at different ages and severities. Some studies include only clinically diagnosed moderate-to-severe eczema, while others rely on parental reporting of any rash, leading to inconsistent outcome measurements.

The Timing of Food Introduction

Recent research suggests that when solid foods are introduced (particularly allergenic foods like eggs and peanuts) may be more important than breastfeeding duration alone. The timing of food introduction has changed dramatically over the past two decades, complicating comparisons between older and newer studies.

Maternal Diet During Breastfeeding

What mothers eat while breastfeeding affects what passes through breast milk, yet most studies don't account for maternal dietary factors. For babies with food protein sensitivities, breast milk composition may matter more than breastfeeding itself. Learn more about how foods that support breast milk supply can be chosen to support both lactation and potentially reduce inflammatory triggers.

Even though the prevention evidence is mixed, research suggests breastfeeding may influence eczema in other meaningful ways:

Potential Delayed Onset

Several studies indicate that breastfeeding may not prevent eczema entirely but could delay its appearance. Babies who are breastfed may develop eczema later in childhood rather than in early infancy, potentially making symptoms easier to manage when they do appear.

Possible Severity Reduction

Some research suggests breastfed babies who develop eczema may experience less severe symptoms or fewer intense flares compared to formula-fed babies with eczema, though this finding isn't consistent across all studies.

Gut Microbiome Development

Breast milk contains prebiotics, probiotics, and immune factors that shape infant gut development. Since gut health during postpartum and infancy influences immune system maturation, breastfeeding's effects on the microbiome may indirectly affect eczema risk and severity, though the mechanisms remain incompletely understood.

Immune System Education

Breast milk exposes babies to small amounts of food proteins from the maternal diet, potentially helping build immune tolerance. However, for babies with specific sensitivities, these same proteins can trigger symptoms, explaining why some babies with eczema improve when mothers eliminate certain foods.

The relationship between maternal nutrition and infant skin health is complex and explored further in resources like the eczema diet by Karen Fischer, which addresses dietary approaches to eczema management.

Despite the mixed evidence on eczema prevention specifically, Australian and international health organizations continue recommending breastfeeding for overall infant health:

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life for optimal nutrition, immune support, and bonding, though not specifically citing eczema prevention as a primary reason.

The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) notes that while exclusive breastfeeding is encouraged for overall health benefits, there's insufficient evidence to recommend it specifically for allergy or eczema prevention in the general population. For high-risk infants (those with family history), ASCIA supports breastfeeding but emphasizes it's not a guaranteed prevention strategy.

The American Academy of Dermatology states that breastfeeding may reduce eczema risk for some children, particularly those with family history, but acknowledges the evidence is inconsistent and doesn't guarantee protection.

The key takeaway: Breastfeeding remains recommended for its numerous proven benefits, but you shouldn't breastfeed solely expecting it to prevent your baby's eczema.

If your exclusively breastfed baby develops eczema, it doesn't mean breastfeeding failed or that you should stop. Here's what the evidence tells us:

Don't Assume You Should Switch to Formula

Standard infant formula contains cow's milk protein, which is actually the most common food trigger for eczema in babies with food sensitivities. Switching from breast milk to regular formula won't help and may worsen symptoms if dairy sensitivity is present. Only specialized hydrolyzed or amino acid formulas (used under medical supervision) would be appropriate if formula becomes necessary.

Consider Maternal Dietary Modification First

For breastfed babies with moderate to severe eczema, maternal elimination of common trigger foods (particularly dairy and eggs) may provide more benefit than stopping breastfeeding. Work with healthcare providers to determine if a systematic elimination trial is appropriate before considering weaning.

Breastfeeding Provides Other Benefits Even With Eczema

Even if breastfeeding didn't prevent your baby's eczema, it continues providing optimal nutrition, immune support, and bonding. Eczema is just one aspect of your baby's health, and breastfeeding supports numerous other outcomes including cognitive development, metabolic health, and protection against infections.

Environmental and Skincare Management Matters More

Eczema management relies primarily on proper skincare routines, environmental trigger avoidance, and appropriate topical treatments—not feeding method. Understanding factors like why children are more itchy at night helps you manage symptoms regardless of whether your baby is breastfed or formula-fed.

If you choose to breastfeed—whether for potential eczema benefits, other health reasons, or personal preference—proper support for your lactation journey is essential:

Maintaining adequate nutrition and hydration supports both milk production and your own health during this demanding time. Explore lactation support options that provide galactagogue herbs and nutrient-dense nutrition to sustain your milk supply.

For mothers who need to avoid certain ingredients due to dietary restrictions or baby sensitivities, brewer's yeast-free lactation cookies and yeast-free lactation products provide support without triggering potential sensitivities.

Staying well-hydrated is crucial for milk production. Breastfeeding hydration drinks help ensure you're meeting increased fluid needs while supporting your energy levels during this intensive period.

"If I breastfeed exclusively, my baby won't get eczema"

No feeding method guarantees eczema prevention. Eczema has strong genetic components, and even exclusively breastfed babies from families with no allergic history can develop eczema due to skin barrier dysfunction or environmental factors unrelated to feeding.

"My baby has eczema, so breastfeeding isn't working"

Breastfeeding provides benefits beyond eczema prevention. Your baby receiving optimal nutrition, immune factors, and bonding experiences regardless of whether they develop eczema. The appearance of eczema doesn't negate breastfeeding's other proven benefits.

"I should breastfeed longer to cure my baby's existing eczema"

While continued breastfeeding supports overall health, breastfeeding duration alone won't resolve established eczema. Management requires comprehensive approaches including proper skincare, environmental modifications, and potentially medical treatments—not extended breastfeeding.

"Formula-fed babies always have worse eczema than breastfed babies"

The evidence doesn't consistently support this. Many formula-fed babies never develop eczema, and many exclusively breastfed babies do. Eczema severity depends more on genetic factors, skin care practices, environmental triggers, and appropriate treatment than feeding method alone.

"I need to stop breastfeeding if my baby has eczema"

Unless your healthcare provider identifies a specific reason to wean (which is rare), continuing to breastfeed while implementing proper eczema management strategies is typically the recommended approach. Weaning doesn't cure eczema and may remove beneficial immune factors and nutrition.

Understanding the complex relationship between breastfeeding and eczema helps you make feeding decisions based on realistic expectations rather than misconceptions. For comprehensive guidance on managing eczema in breastfed babies, including when maternal dietary modification may help, how to identify food sensitivities through breast milk, and evidence-based eczema management regardless of feeding method, explore our complete Breastfeeding and Baby Eczema Guide.

Remember that your feeding choice—whether breastfeeding, formula feeding, or combination feeding—is just one factor in your baby's overall health and eczema risk. Genetic predisposition, environmental factors, skincare practices, and early allergen introduction all play important roles. Whatever feeding method you choose, support yourself with adequate nutrition, seek professional guidance when needed, and know that you're doing your best with the information and resources available to you.